U.S. SENATE – At a U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing today, U.S. Senator Steve Daines spoke about the importance of increasing American energy and mineral security.
Daines opened his remarks sharing the story of Montana’s Rock Creek Mine’s never-ending cycle of permitting and litigation that has left the mine nonoperational for over 35 years. Daines stressed that the impact of the permitting and litigation nightmare is killing jobs, tax revenue and economic activity in Montana.
Click HERE to watch and download
“In 1987 when this process started, Ronald Reagan was President. In fact, that was the year he stood before the Brandenburg Gate and said, ‘Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.’ I would kindly submit please, to the courts, to the regulators, please tear down this wall and allow us to move forward with a mine after some 35 years of court battles and regulatory battles,” Daines said.
Daines then slammed the Biden administration, woke green groups and activist judges for their ‘leave it in the ground’ philosophy which is killing not only traditional energy like oil, gas and coal, but also killing renewable energy since they won’t allow for mining that is needed to produce renewable energy.
Click HERE to watch and download
“On one hand, we have the Biden administration trying to block permitting of new oil and gas leases on federal lands. At the same time, you have these woke green groups trying to block domestic mining of the materials and metals needed for renewable energy development. So, what are we left with? Under President Biden and these far-Left environmental groups and woke judges, we can’t produce traditional energy on federal lands and we also can’t mine the materials needed to produce renewable energy,” Daines said.
To watch Daines’ full opening remarks click HERE.
###
Contact: Rachel Dumke, Katie Schoettler